Operating mechanism for registering devices



Aug- A. c. ERISMAN ETAL OPERATING MECHANISM FOR REGISTERING DEVICES Filed April 8, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l llllllIIllllI/Illllflllllllllriflllll!I IIIIIIIII 0' v o MENTOR: AaoLPn GEk/JMA/v AND MICHAEL 6.51m!

"'IIIIIIIIOIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII'IIIIII'IIII ATTORNEY 44- A. ERISMAN E 2, 4 5

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR REGISTERING DEVICES Filed April 8, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Aha/m5; C SMITH I Aoocpn C. ER/JMAN 4N0 Patented Aug. 1, 1944 OPERATING MECHANISM FOR REGISTER- ING DEVICES Adolph C. Erisrnan, Port Richmond, and Michael C. Smith. Elmhurst, N. Y.

Application, April 8, 1941, Serial No. 387,422

4 Claims. v (01. 235-1) This invention relates to register operating mechanism and has for its general object and purpose to provide simple and novel means for actuating the indicating or registering device.

More particularly, our present invention is ap- F plicable to portable watchmans clocks for the purpose of registering the number of rounds of the various stations made by the watchman during this patrol. For this purpose, we provide a registering device and actuating means therefor,

in combination with a standard clock works provided with means for limiting each operation thereof to one hour or other predetermined time limit, and means controlling operation of said actuating means and the spring winding means for the clock works.

It is another object of the invention to provide a permutation mechanism controlling the effective operation of the actuating means for the registering device, said mechanism including a plurality of rotary disks or tumblers adapted to be operated only by means of a series of differently constructed keys operated in sequential order, the said keys corresponding in number to the number of stations visited by the watchman during each round of his patrol.

It is another object of the invention to provide one of the keys for operating the permutation mechanism with additional means which also winds the clock operation spring.

A further object of the invention is to provide a very compact mounting and arrangement of the permutation disks or tumblers with means for preventing their casual relative rotation from the positions set by the operating keys and for also preventing the reverse rotation of the keys and disks during the setting operation of said disks.

Another object of the invention is to provide simple and effective means for preventing rewinding of the clock works by the key, prior to the expiration of the hour or other time period, and means for preventing operation of the register independently of the permutation mechanism.

It is also the purpose of. our invention to provide a register operating mechanism as above characterized which may be used in conjunction with a portable watchmans clock, and which will be comparatively light, in weight and is so constructed as to not easily get out of order and require frequent repair due to abusive handling.

With the above and other objects in view, our invention consists in the improved operating mechanism for registers and in the form,'co'nstruction andrelative arrangement of the several parts thereof, as will hereinafter be more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims; I

In the drawings wherein We have disclosed one simpleand practical embodiment of the invention, and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

' Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the device, the casing therefor being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a similar rear elevation thereof, one of the parts being broken away.

"Fig. 3 is a vertical section showing the device mounted withinan outer case or holder to which a suitable carrying strap may be attached.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line '5-5 of Fig. 4, the key beingomitted.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional'view taken on the line 6-'-6of Fig. 5.

I Fig. 7 is a similar view showing another position of the tumbler disk and with the operating key engaged therewith.

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 88 of Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is a semi=diagrammatic view showing another position of the register actuating means with respect to that shown in Figs. 1 and 6 to position the same foroperation by the selected permutation disks, and

Figs. 10 to 15 inclusive are perspective views of the permutation disks or tumblers in exploded relation showing the different positions or settings of certain of thedisks with the appropriate station keys for operating the same.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 5 indicates a supporting plate which is adapted to be mounted within the outer carrying case or holder 5 in any suitable manner. Upon the front side of this plate a standard clock works generally indicated at I is mounted or secured and is provided with the alarm hell 8. A conventional type of limiting device is associated with the clock works mechanism whereby in each winding of the operating spring therefor, the operation of said mechanism is limited to one hour or other predetermined time period. This limiting device'may be similar to that shown in our pending application for patent, Ser. No. 304,286, filed November 14, 1939, now Patent No. 2,259,065,.granted Oct. 14, 1941. The winding shaft 9 for the power spring of the clock mechanism extends rearward- 1y through the plate 5 and has a gear I fixed thereto.

There is also mounted upon the front side of the supporting plate a standard type of registering device II, and to the operating shaft for this device at one end thereof an arm I2 is fixed.

In spaced relation to the register II a tubular housing or casing I3 is fixed at one of its ends to the plate 5. This casing at its lower side has a slot or opening I4 extending the entire length thereof. The front end of said casing is closed by the plate I5 formed on its lower portion with the spaced radially extending apertured lugs I6 and I1 respectively, the purpose of which will hereinafter be explained.

Within the housing I3, and next adjacent to the supporting plate 5 a ratchet disk I8 is arranged. A series of spaced apart permutation disks or tumblers I9 together with the spacing rings 28 respectitvely inteposed between adjacent disks I9 and ratchet disk I8 and the disk I9, substantially occupy the remaining interior of the housing I3. The spacing rings 20 have frictional engagement with the outer edge portions of the permutation disks and the ratchet disk I8, each of said spacing rings being provided with a short outwardly projecting pin 2I which projects into the longitudinal groove 22 in the inner surface of the housing wall at the top thereof to prevent rotative movement of said spacing rings. The disks I9 are all of the same form or construction which will be later described in detail.

The cover plate I5 of the housing I3 has a key hole boss 23 formed on its front surface. The key hole extending through this cover plate includes the slot portions 24 and 25 respectively extendin radially from the central opening 26, and conforming to the cross sectional contour of the operating keys for the permutation disks to be presently described. The ratchet disk I8 also has a similar key hole as indicated at 21. Below this disk a pawl 28 is pivotally mounted on the face of the plate 5 as at 29 and is yieldingly held in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet disk by a suitable spring 30. Thus the rotation of this ratchet disk and the operating key engaged therewith in a counter-clockwise direction is effectually prevented.

To the rear side of the plate 5, the angular end portions of a horizontal bar 3I are suitably secured. In this bar the rear end of a cylindrical spindle 32 is fixed, said spindle extending forwardly therefrom axially through the permutation disks or tumblers and into the key hole of the cover plate I5. Between the bar 3| and the collar 33 on the spindle 32 a gear 34 is rotatably mounted upon said spindle and is in constant mesh with the gear II] on the clock spring winding spindle or shaft 9. Disposed between the plate 5 and the front side of the gear 34 and fixed to the latter by one or more screws 35 is a disk 36. This disk is provided with a key hole having a single radially extending slot indicated at 31 and the plate is provided as at 38 with a similar key receiving hole. To the periphery of the disk 36 a stop lug 39 to cooperate with a, part of the actuating means for the register I I is suitably secured. This register actuating means includes a lever 40 positioned horizontally at the rear side of the plate 5 and fixed at one of its ends to the rear end of a rock shaft 4I mounted in said plate, the front end of said shaft being supported in the apertured lug I 6 of the cover plate I5. The other end of this lever is angularly bent and extends forwardly as at 42 through the vertical slot 43 in the plate 5. This end of the lever is connected by the rod 44 with the end of the arm I2 on the operating shaft of the register device II. It will be noted that the lever 40 is disposed beneath the disk 36 so that in one position of the lug 39 upward movement of said lever is prevented.

Upon the rock shaft 4| two angular fingers 45 are adjustably secured by the clamping screws 46. The fingers extend inwardly over one edge of the slot or opening I4 in the lower side of the wall of the housing I3 and their free ends project upwardly through said slot and are adapted for contact upon the peripheries of a selected pair of the permutation disks or tum- .blers l9.

Referring now to Figs, 10 to 15 of the drawings, it will be noted that each of the rotary tumblers I9 of the permutation mechanism is in the form of a thin metal disk or annulus. The inner circumference of this annulus is provided at substantially diametrically opposite points with the oppositely facing shoulders 41 and 48 respectitvely. The outer periphery of each disk is also formed with an eccentric cam surface 49 terminating at one end in the shoulder 50 and in circumferentially spaced relation to said shoulder and adjacent to the internal shoulder 41 with a notch or recess 5I, one side face of which is obliquely inclined as shown at 52 in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings.

In order to prevent operation of the permutation mechanism, except by the use of operating key in proper sequential order, We provide a member 51 fixed to a shaft 58 rotatably mounted at one end in the supporting plate and at its other end in the lug I! on the cover plate I5 of the housing I3. This member carries a curved blade 59 extending substantially the full length of said housing. A suitable spring 60 tends to yieldingly rock the member 51 in one direction and urge the free edge of said blade through the opening or slot I4 at the bottom of the housing and into engagement with the peripheries of the permutation disks. When the disks are arranged as shown in Fig. 10, said edge portion of the blade 59 is engaged in the aligned notches or recesses 5I of all of the disks excepting No. 6 and 8, and is engaged with the cam surfaces 49 of the latter disks. When, upon turning the key, the permutation disks are rotated in a clockwise direction, the beveled or inclined side faces 52 of the notches M and the cam surfaces 49 of the disks 6 and 8 force said blade outwardly so that its free edge will then ride on the peripheries of said disks. The blade 59 acts to similarly hold the disks against relative rotation in each of the other changed arrangements of said disks as shown in Figs. 11 to 15. Thus it will be understood that in order to cause the relative displacement of the permutation disks, initially considerable turning stress must be applied to the operating key.

Assuming that the device is used for the purpose of registering the rounds of patrol duty made by the watchman of an industrial plant or establishment, and that during each. hour of duty, he must visit six different stations, there is provided at each of such stations, andcontained in a suitable secret compartment or receptacle, a key which differs in structuralform from the key for very other station. In such case, reading from left to right to Figs. 10. to..l5 of the drawings, the fifth andseventh permutation disks I9 become the control disks, and with the peripheries of these disks, the two fingers 45 are engaged. I

In the drawings, I have shown the operating keys for the permutation mechanism bearing the identifying numerals l to 6 respectively. Each of these keys has a tubular cylindrical shank 53, and it will be noted that the shank of key No. I is of somewhat greater length than the shank portions of each of the keys Nos. 2 to 6 inclusive. Upon the periphery of each key shank there is formed a series of longitudinally aligned spaced apart lugs 54 projecting radially from the periphery of said shank. A second series of longitudinally spaced apart lugs 55 are also formed upon the key shank, the latter lugs being relatively longer than the lugs 54 and projecting radially from the shank at an angle of 90 with respect to the latter lugs. Inaddition, the shank of No.1 key 53 at its extremity and beyond the lugs 54 and 55 is providedwith the additional relatively wide lug 56 in alignment with the lugs 55. It will be noted that the relative arrangement or spacing of the lugs 54 and on each keyshank is different so that only the one appropriate key will be operative'for each setting of the permutation disks or tumblers. While, for purposes of illustration we have referred to only six station keys, in the operation of which certain of the tumbler disks l9 will not be operated, it will be understood that since nine such disks are provided and each key, when operated, actuates only four of the disks, that thirty-six different combinations are possible and, therefore, the invention might be used in a plant having thirty-six diiferent stations to bevisited by the watchman. I

Assuming the initial arrangement of the permutation disks as shown in Fig. 10, when the watchman arrives at station No. I, he inserts the key of said station over the spindle 32, the

lugs 55and 56 entering through the vertical portion 24 of the key hole slot in cover plate 15 while the lugs 54 pass throughthe horizontal portion 250i said slot. When the key is inserted to the limit of its movement, the end lug 56 thereof passes through the vertically disposed part of the angular slot 21 in ratchet l8, through the slot 38 in the supporting plate and into the slot 31 of disk 36 which is fixed to the gear 34. The adjacent lug .55 on the key shank will then be disposed in the vertical part of the slot 21 in the ratchet while a portion of the first of the lugs 54 will be disposed in the horizontal part of said slot. Thus lug is relatively wide and a part thereof is also disposed in the plane of the first of the permutation disks 19 while the next adjacent lug 54 is positioned in the plane of the third permutation disk. It will be noted that all of the disks with the exception of Nos. 6 and 8 have the'internal shoulders "thereof disposed in the same position relative to the axis of rotation, and below the key shank and the lugs 54 thereon. The shoulders 48 of the sixth and eighth permutation disks are horizontally disposed in like position slightly below the axis of rotation, and the second and third of the lugs 55 on the key shank are positioned in the planes of these disks. 7

When the key is now given a clockwise rotation, it will be obvious thatthe gear 34 and ratchet l8 are rotated by the two end lugs 56 and 55 respectively and rotation is thus transmitted through gear I0 to the spring winding spindle 9 of the clock works. In the first quarter or 90 ofsuch rotationot the key there'is no effect upon the permutation disks or tumblers. Lugs 55 then come-into contact with the shoulders 48 of the sixth and eighth permutation disks and in the continued rotation of the key said disks are retated until the lugs 55 are again in a vertical position. During the last quarter or of such rotation of the key, the lugs 54 on the key shank are engaged with the shoulders 41 of disks l and 3 and, therefore, impart a 90 rotation to these two disks. The disks I, 3, 5 and 1 are then in the relative positions shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings and since the lugs 54 and 55 are in registering relation with the angular portions of the slot in ratchet I8 and the cover plate l5, the key may then be withdrawn.

Upon arriving at station No. 2, the clock mechanism is, of course, operating and in the anti-clockwise rotation of gear 34, the slot 31 has moved out of registering relation with the slot 38 in the supporting plate 5. This prevents the insertion of key No. l and the rewinding of the clock spring before the hour during which the watchman must make his round of the several stations, has expired. When key No. 2 is inserted through the series of permutation disks, a part of the relatively Wide end lug 55 on the key shank is engaged in the vertical part of the slot in ratchet I8 while the inner portion of this lug is disposed in the plane of the first permutation disk IS. The adjacent lug 55 is similarly positioned in the plane of the third permutation disk while the second and third lugs 54 from the end of the key shank are disposed in the plane of the permutation disks 2 and 4. It will, therefore, be understood that in the rotation of station key No. 2, the second and fourth permutation disks are rotated through 90 by engagement of the lugs 54 with the shoulders 41 of said disks While the first and third permutation disks are rotated through three-quarters of a revolution or 270 by the engagement of lugs 55 on the key shank with the shoulders 48 of the latter disks. The disks I, 2, 3 and 4 would then be in the relative positions as shown in Fig. 12.

When the key of station No. 3 is inserted, the end lugs 54 and 55 engage in the angular slot21 of the ratchet 18 while the two succeeding lugs 54 are disposed in the planes of the permutation disks 3 and 5 and the two succeeding lugs 55 are disposed in the planes of the disks 2 and 4 respectively. Thus when the key is given one complete rotation, the latter disks are rotated for three quarters of a revolution while disks 3 and 5 are rotated for one quarter of a revolution to dispose said disk in the relative positions as seen in Fig. 13 of the drawings.

When the key of station No. 4 is inserted, the end lugs 54 and 55 coact with the ratchet l8 as before and the two succeeding lugs 54 are in the planes of the tumbler disks 4 and 6 respectively, and the next two lugs 55 are positioned in the planes of the tumbler disks 3 and 5 respectively. Thus the lugs 54 and 55, when the key is rotated will engage the shoulders 41 and 48 of the respective pairs of above named disks and rotate the same through one quarter and three quarters of a revolution respectively whereby the said disks are positioned as seen in Fig. 14.

When the key of station No. 5 is inserted, the two spaced intermediate lugs 54 will cooperate with the shoulders 41 of the permutation disks 5 and 1 respectively while the intermediate spaced lugs 55 will engage the'shoulders 48 of the disks 4-and 6 respectively, thereby rotating said pairs of disks when the key is turned to the extent above referred to and position thesarne as seen in Fig. 15. It will be noted that in this position of the disks 5 and 1, the shoulders 50 thereof are at the lowermost point. When the disks 5 and-,1 are moved to the latter position, the ends of the fingers 45 ride over the peripheral shoulders 50 on said disks and move inwardly upon the cam surfaces 49. This movement of said fingers is causedby the action of a spring (not shown) in the mechanism of the registering device H which rotates the operating shaft thereof in one direction and moves the arm l2 attached to the end thereof in an upward direction. This arm, through the rod connection 44 pulls the. end 42 of lever 40 upwardly to rock shaft 4| in a counterclockwise direction.

It will, therefore, be understood that when the key for station No. 6 is inserted and operated, the intermediate spaced lugs 54 will cooperate with the shoulders 41 of the disks 6 and 8 while the intermediate spaced lugs 55 will engage the shoulders 48 of the disks 5 and 1. As the latter .two disks are rotated through three quarters of a revolution, the cam surfaces 49 thereof coacting with the ends of the respective fingers 45 force the latter outwardly, thus rocking shaft 4| in a clockwise direction and moving the free end of the register operating arm [2 downwardly to move the digit wheel thereof one step, as will be readily understood from reference to Figs. 6 and 9 of the drawings. After operation of key No. B, the permutation disks Will then be in the relative positions shown in Fig. 10. However, it will, of course, be clear that the disks cannot be operated by the No. 1 station key until the hour has expired and the clock stops, when the slot 31 of lug 36 fixed to the spring winding gear 34 will again be in registration with the slot 38 and the vertical portion of slot 21 in the ratchet disk l8,'and in position to receive the end lug 56 of Key No. I.

Since by reason of the permutation mechanism and the distinctive operating keys for each station, the indicating or registering device cannot be actuated unless said mechanism has been operated by the use of the respective keys in sequential order, an accurate count may be obtained showing that the watchman has made the required number of rounds during a predetermined time period and has properly checked in at each of the stations to be visited.

In the operation of the station keys, the ratchet I8 is also rotated in a clockwise direction, and the coacting pawl 28, thereby effectually prevents any reverse or counterclockwise rotation of the key and the permutation disks.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought that the construction, manner of operation and several advantages of our present invention will be clearly understood. We have herein referred to our novel key operated permutation mechanism in one application thereof to actuate a device for registering the inspection rounds of the watchman of an industrial plant or establishment. It will, however, be understood that our invention may be applicable to many other analogous uses for the control of actuating means for a register or other device which is to be operated at predetermined time intervals. It will be understood that while the ends of the fingers 45 are engaged with the peripheries of the permutation disks, the operating shaft of the register I l is held in its operated position against the action of the return spring. At the expiration of the hour the lug 89 is directly above the lever 40 so that the-registering device cannot be operated until the clock sprin is removed and the permutation disks or tumblers have been properly set by the use of the series of keys in sequential order.v It will, of course, be understood that in the adaptation of our invention for use in a watchmans clock, the front wall of the outer case 6 in which the mechanism is mounted is provided with spaced openings therein through one of which the numerals of the digit wheels of the register H are visible while the other is suitablyshaped or formed to receive the boss 23 on the cover plate l5 of the permutation disk housing 13. Also, the case 5 at its rear side is provided with a suitable closure and lock therefor or other sealing means which wil1 prevent unauthorized access to the interior of said case. This case may, of course, likewise be provided with convenient carrying straps as is usual in portable watchmansclocks.

It will be noted that the several parts of the mechanism are of simple mechanical form and very compactly arranged so that they will operate in a positive and reliable manner and maintenance costs will be reduced to a minimum. The permutation device or mechanism and the registering device are also of comparatively small size and may be combined with a suitable clock mechanism and contained in an outer carrying case of comparatively small dimensions.

While we have herein shown and described one practical embodiment of our present invention which has been found practically satisfactory, it will, nevertheless, be understood that the essential features thereof are susceptible of more or less modification as to the construction and relative arrangement of the various cooperating elements. Accordingly, we reserve the privilege of resortingto' all such legitimate changes therein as may be fairly considered to be within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim: I

1. In combination with a device to be operated, actuating means for said device, and means controlling the operation of said actuating means including a. permutation mechanism comprising a plurality of relatively rotatable tumblers, and means adjustably connected with a part of said actuating means for selective engagement with certain of the tumblers, each tumbler having means to cooperate with said adjustable means whereby rotation of said selected tumblers eifec: tively operates said actuating means.

2. In combination witha device to be operated and actuating means therefor; means controlling the operation of said actuating means comprising a permutation mechanism including a plurality of members operable in sequential order, and means adjustably connected with a part of said actuating means and adjustable relative thereto for selective engagement with said members, each .of saidmembers having means to cooperatively engage said adjustable means, whereby the selected members operate the actuating means for said device when the permutation members are operated in predetermined sequential order.

3. In a watchmans clock, in combination with clock mechanism having energizing means and .a rounds registering device; means for controlling operation of said clock mechanism and device comprising apermutation mechanism having a plurality of rotatable tumbler disks adapted for operation in predetermined sequential order, actuating means for said device including means adapted to be selectively engaged with said disks,

each of said disks havin means to coact with said last named means whereby rotation of the selected disks in the final sequential operation of the permutation mechanism operates said actuating means, means operablein the initial operation of said permutation mechanism for actuating the energizing means of the clock mechanism, and means for thereafter preventing actuation of said energizing means until the sequential operating order of said permutation disks has been completed.

4. In a watchmans clock, in combination with clock mechanism having energizing means and a rounds registering device; means for controlling operation of said clock mechanism and device comprising a permutation mechanism having a plurality of rotatable tumbler disks adapted for operation in predetermined sequential order, actuating means for said device including means adapted to be selectively engaged with said disks, each of said disks having means to coact with said last named means whereby rotation of the selected disks in the final sequential operation of the permutation mechanism operates said actuating means, means operable in the initial operation of said permutation mechanism for actuating the energizing means of the clock mechanism, and means controlled by the clock mechanism for preventing operation of said device actuating means independently of the permutation mechanism.

ADOLPH C. ERISMAN. MICHAEL C. SMITH. 

